UPDATED October 17, 2024
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened in Walt Disney World as part of the historic transformation of EPCOT! This new roller coaster — EPCOT’s first! — opened on May 27, 2022.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Click HERE to check out PHOTOS & VIDEOS of our FIRST RIDE on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!
Staying SPOILER-FREE? Click HERE for our NO SPOILER Review of Cosmic Rewind!
Located in World Discovery (in the area that formerly housed the Universe of Energy), the attraction — which is one of the longest indoor roller coasters ever built — takes YOU on an intergalactic adventure with the Guardians of the Galaxy!
You’ve got FAQs about Cosmic Rewind, and we’ve got answers HERE!
If you’d like to jump to a specific topic about Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, click any of the links below:
- The Story Behind Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (SPOILER WARNING)
- The Ride, Ride Vehicles, and Unique Attraction Features
- The Cast of Characters
- The Soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Cosmic Rewind Construction Milestones and Imagineering
- Treasures of Xandar — Merchandise Location
- Rider Access — How to Get on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Ride Specifications (including Height Requirement and appropriate Age Groups)
As the story goes…
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — The Story
The planet of Xandar of the Andromeda Galaxy (and home to the galaxy’s Nova Corps) has brought the first Other-World pavilion to EPCOT: the Wonders of Xandar pavilion!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
You see, Star-Lord loved EPCOT when he was just a lil’ Peter Quill. He loved it SO much, in fact, that he “suggested the Disney park as the perfect place for Xandarians to connect with Terrans.”
Wonders of Xandar
And so, the Wonders of Xandar pavilion was created to connect our worlds and people.
Wonders of Xandar Dedication Plaque
Let’s explore…
The Galaxarium
Guests first enter the Galaxarium, a “planetarium-like exhibition,” to learn about the differences and similarities between the galaxies of Earth (Terra) and Xandar.
The Galaxarium
Visions of “planets, stars and other intergalactic wonders that connect Terra and Xandar” are presented to reinforce the notion that “we’re all born of the same space dust.”
Entirely immersive, the full viewable experience in the Galaxarium is over 30 minutes long. And your narration is provided by the Xandarian supercomputer, Worldmind.
The Galaxarium
You’ll see Xandar and the Andromeda Galaxy, as well as Earth (Terra) and the Milky Way Galaxy. (Click HERE to see a video!) You may also spy Star-Lord’s Awesome Mix Vol. 1 floating through space!
The famous turkey leg!
And, umm… a TURKEY LEG.
(You can find out a little more about that here. 😉 ) Next on our tour…
The Xandar Gallery
After winding through the ramps of the Galaxarium, guests enter the Xandar Gallery, where Xandarians teach Terrans (Earth dwellers) about “their world, their people and their advanced technologies,” as well as Xandar’s “protectors and heroes!” (Now WHO could that be? 😉 )
Starblaster Model in the Xandar Gallery
On display are models of starships and a Xandarian city.
A Xandarian City Model
Meanwhile, excerpts from Good Morning Xandar allow guests to get to know the Guardians!
“Good morning Xandar!”
(Buuut, who’s going to be the one to break it to Peter that Horizons no longer exists? Anyway, moving on…
The Phase Chamber
The tour leads next to the Phase Chamber, where visitors hear from Nova Prime Irani Rael, leader of Xandar and the commander of Nova Corps.
Nova Prime!
The goal from here? To “instantly teleport [guests] from EPCOT to a Nova Corps Starcharter cruiser orbiting Earth.” Nova Prime talks “about the Cosmic Generator, a piece of Xandarian technology that creates jump points – artificial tunnels in space allowing for rapid travel across vast distances.” From the Phase Chamber you’ll be able to teleport to a Nova ship above Earth for a demonstration of the Cosmic Generator!
Then it’s time for a demonstration, and a word of instruction from Nova Prime’s top officer, Centurion Tal Marik.
Centurion Tal Marik
Oh, and once you’re in the Phase Chamber, you may hear Centurion Marik mention the teeny, tiny little matter that that they’ve never transported Terrans before. (WAIT. Whaaaa…????)
Inside the Phase Chamber
Thankfully, there’s a smooth transition to the ship for a preview of the Cosmic Generator!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Well, there’s supposed to be a preview, that is…
Not All Goes According to Plan…
Suddenly, the power goes out and the cosmic generator goes MISSING. So much for that preview!
Uh Oh!
As it just so happens, a Celestial named Eson (or Eson the Searcher) once had possession of the Power Stone (one of the 6 Infinity stones). (Other Celestials you may have seen in the MCU include Arishem from The Eternals and Ego from Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2.)
Eson
Eson has been watching Earth (Terra), for a long time, and apparently he “intends to use the Cosmic Generator to jump back in time and change the course of humanity.” Like, NOW.
Click HERE to check out the story behind the VILLIAN of Cosmic Rewind!
Nova Prime Irani Rael commands Centurion Tal Marik, to get into action and contact the Guardians of the Galaxy!
The Guardians!
And now? Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, and Star-Lord need YOUR help to save the galaxy after receiving that S.O.S. from the Nova Corps that their outpost on Earth is in danger. Now, YOU, my friend, have gotta get out of the ship FAST, so you evacuate by using “Starjumper shuttles – small escape pods that launch from the Starcharter cruiser.”
Loading Area for your Starjumper Shuttle
Why? Because YOUR Starjumper shuttle will actually follow Eson until the Guardians can arrive!
Starjumpers
With plenty of twists and turns, Cosmic Rewind sends guests on a high-speed journey through “space and time!”
Starjumper? Nova Corps? Cosmic Generator? Click HERE for all the NEW LANGUAGE you should learn for your Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind adventure!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — The Ride and Features
As mentioned above, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is one of the longest indoor rollercoasters in the WORLD. At an event we were able to attend months before the ride’s opening, Disney Imagineers shared that the massive building which houses the attraction is technically one story (as one large room), but it realistically looks to be the height of a something closer to a 4 story building.
©Disney
To give you more of an idea of the scope, Cosmic Rewind is located inside one of the largest show buildings that has EVER been built for a Disney theme park. In fact, the show building is so big that (by volume) FOUR Spaceship Earths could fit inside of it!
Cosmic Rewind also features the first ever reverse launch on a Disney coaster!
Cosmic Rewind
Click HERE to read our thoughts as we stepped inside Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for the first time!
The attraction is a family-friendly Omnicoaster, which means that the ride vehicles — the Starjumper vehicles — spin a full 360 degrees on the track while traveling at high speeds.
©Disney
Here is a closer look at the 4-seater Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Starjumpers!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Vehicle
Click HERE to Find Out Why Disney Adults Keep Asking for Row 9 On Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!
Josh D’Amaro (Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products) spoke during the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo in late 2020, and shared a video of the ride vehicle moving on its 360-degree access so you can see it in action below!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride vehicles! Footage from the IAAPA Expo! pic.twitter.com/7NP1SVa3Mv
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) November 16, 2020
Safety bars pull down for each guest, and speakers are also inset into each row between the seats. (Cue Awesome Mix Vol. 1 and 2!)
Inside the ride vehicle
To help you on your adventure are “emissaries of Xandar as members of the Nova Corps”… otherwise known as Disney Cast Members!
©Zach Riddley (@thezachriddley on Instagram)
Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley has shared that the Cast Member costumes feature some of the style, colors, and symbols from the Nova Corps and the world of Xandar that fans have previously only gotten glimpses of.
©Zach Riddley (@thezachriddley on Instagram)
Disney shares that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is “a massive experience that will match the scale and adventure of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.”
Guardians of the Galaxy: The Cast of Characters and Other Appearances
In addition to Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, Star-Lord, and Eson the Searcher (as mentioned above), Terry Crews appears as “Centurion Tal Marik, Commander of the Starcharter and close advisor to Nova Prime.”
Glenn Close and Terry Crews
And actress Glenn Close has reprised her role as Nova Prime in the attraction.
You may see another familiar face as well…
Walt Disney
In fact, you may be taken by surprise by some of the things you notice!
See TONS of hidden Disney details and Easter Eggs in Cosmic Rewind HERE!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Awesome Mix! (The Soundtrack)
Want to know which song you’ll hear while you ride? There are six tunes that provide the sounds for the experience:
- “September”
- “Disco Inferno”
- “Conga”
- “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
- “I Ran”
- “One Way or Another”
Spoiler Alert: the soundtrack WON’T be the same every time you ride it. As Disney shares, “you won’t know which track you’ll hear each time you ride until you actually blast off!”
Get the story behind the sounds HERE!
Guests will also hear some of the songs that didn’t make it into the final ride mix when exiting the ride. There are “several dozen songs” that play in this area, so you can hear some of the songs that were considered for the attraction.
And GET THIS… During the Holiday Season in Disney World, the Guardians trade in their typical playlist for a “mash-up of seasonal jams.”
Disney Imagineering of Cosmic Rewind
Throughout the construction of the attraction, we visited the site to keep an eye on the progress for Cosmic Rewind. For instance, in January 2022, assembly began on the 51-foot Nova Corps Starblaster ship which marks the entrance to the ride. (It’s the first full-size version of this ship that has ever been built!)
Nova Corps Starblaster ship
The iconic ship was first seen in the original Guardians of the Galaxy film, and now it greets guests as they approach the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion in EPCOT!
In February, we noticed blaster installation on the Nova Corps ship.
Nova Corps Starblaster in mid-February 2022
And a HUGE moment came in April 2022, when the construction WALLS SURROUNDING THE ATTRACTION CAME DOWN!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
In April 2022, Riddley also provided insight into the nighttime lighting for the attraction, sharing that the atmosphere is meant “to ensure that the people of Xandar have a suitable beacon for the message of peace and cooperation that they have brought to our park.”
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
The lighting is designed to “highlight the intricate layering of masses and forms that define the building—not to mention its very imposing scale!” And the Nova Corps Starblaster is the focus of the pavilion at night in the middle of the courtyard. Riddley noted that “its programming is intended to allow the Xandarians to play along in the vibrant skyline of our new vision for EPCOT.”
Treasures of Xandar — Gift Shop and Guardians of the Galaxy Merchandise
The Treasures of Xandar gift shop in association with the attraction is, as the story goes, operated by “The Broker.”
Treasures of Xandar
The Broker is “a proud Xandarian, who’s been awarded the contract and brought part of his famous store here to EPCOT.”
Treasures of Xandar
Some of the merchandise pays tribute to Xandar itself and items that have been acquired throughout the galaxy.
Nova Corps Mug
You’ll also find some items that celebrate the Heroes of Xandar…
Guardians of the Galaxy Baseball Tee
…the Guardians of the Galaxy!
Groot and Rocket Stress Squeezies
Merchandise collections, as shared by Disney, include:
- Heroes of Xandar Collection — What if the Guardians were rock stars? This collection is “[i]nspired by vintage concert merchandise of the 1980s,” and imagines “all of the gear and memorabilia fans would collect during the Guardians’ fictional intergalactic tour.”
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Merchandise
- The Guardians of the Galaxy: Through the Eyes of Quill Collection — This collection is a “bold and colorful line celebrating Peter Quill’s childhood visit to EPCOT.” It has a vintage feel with “retro silhouettes and graphic designs evoking decades past.”
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Merchandise
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Honorary Guardians Collection — This collection helps guests of all ages show off their new hero status after riding the ride and, you know, saving the galaxy! According to Disney, “Honorary Guardians will be distinguished in their rank through the official Honorary Guardian colors of navy and gold paired with the Honorary Guardian emblem, which is proudly displayed on each item in the collection.”
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Merchandise
- Groot Through the Years Collection — This collection “celebrates the sentient tree-like creature and his journey to becoming a defender of the galaxy.” It offers “toys, home décor and children’s apparel” that show “Groot’s evolution from baby to adolescent to adult.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Merchandise
The Broker reportedly shared a special statement with the Walt Disney Imagineering Team. The statement reads: “I am so delighted to bring my wares to the Wonders of Xandar pavilion. As a proud Xandarian, it gives me great pleasure to represent my planet to you Terrans and allow you to bring home a small bit of Xandar from my shop: Treasures of Xandar. I only hope that it brings our two cultures that much closer together.”
Click HERE to see a FULL LOOK at the Guardians of the Galaxy merchandise in the Treasures of Xandar!
Important Words from the Guardians of the Galaxy Regarding Cosmic Rewind
Disney has passed along the following message from Groot regarding his excitement over this ground-breaking new attraction: “I am Groot.”
Rocket and Groot
Well said, Groot.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Rider Access
There are THREE ways to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind:
ONE: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind utilizes a Virtual Queue. Guests MUST have a Boarding Group in the Virtual Queue to ride. Registration for the Virtual Queue is accessible through the My Disney Experience app. A Standby line is NOT currently available.
PLEASE NOTE: Eligible guests going to Extended Evening Hours can also request to join the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at 6PM. Find COMPLETE DETAILS here.
Click HERE to learn everything you need to know to JOIN a Virtual Queue to get a Boarding Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!
TWO: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind offers paid-for ride access via a Lightning Lane through Lightning Lane Single Pass which is available for purchase on the the My Disney Experience app. The cost to ride Cosmic Rewind can vary by date, and we have seen a range of $14 – $19 (cost is per person).
THREE: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is included with Lightning Lane Premier Pass is an inclusive option grants one-time entry into EVERY Lightning Lane entry in a given park for one price. You can learn more about this option here.
Tap Point for Lightning Lane entrance
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Specifications
Location: World Discovery in EPCOT
Lightning Lane Single Pass Access (pay-per-ride): YES
Virtual Queue for a Boarding Group: YES
Minimum Height Requirement: 42″ (107cm)
Appropriate Age Groups: Disney classifies this ride as Family-friendly, and appropriate for “kids, tweens, teens, and adults.”
Motion Sickness Concerns: We discuss this important topic in full HERE, and offer some tips on how to avoid motion sickness on the attraction here. However, our nutshell comparison with other thrill rides in Disney World is as follows: “The sensation of this ride was like a combo of Space Mountain and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster — it’s very dark inside! We found that the intensity was between the two coasters, it’s more intense than Space Mountain but less intense than Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. We even thought it was less intense than Expedition Everest. And, for anyone concerned, this coaster does NOT go upside down, but it does go backwards.”
Features: Indoor roller coaster, reverse launch into space, 360-degree movement, OmniCoaster ride system, specialized movement along with the story, fast and energetic turns
On-Ride Attraction Photos through Disney PhotoPass: Yes — Learn more here!
Accolades: In November 2023, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was honored with a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement — Attraction in 2024 by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). The Thea Awards are internationally recognized and acknowledge “exceptional achievements in the themed entertainment industry and celebrate the creative teams who bring immersive experiences to life.”
Disney Food Blog Posts Mentioning Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
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